Troy University alumnus U.S. Marine Capt. Morgan Long encouraged new TROY students to find ways to get involved in campus life to make the most of their college experience during Tuesday night’s Odyssey Convocation in Trojan Arena.
Hosted by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership, the Senior Vice Chancellors and the Deans of TROY’s five colleges, the annual convocation signals the beginning of TROY students’ journeys, which will ultimately lead back to the arena stage for their commencement ceremony.
Long, a 2020 TROY graduate with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, sport and tourism management and a former president of the Student Government Association, recalled his early days at TROY when he decided to take that step out during Welcome Week activities to find ways to become involved. He first became involved in Freshman Forum and later SGA and the Trojan Ambassadors, giving tours of the Troy Campus to prospective students. He encouraged students to find their own paths to becoming involved.
“The biggest piece of advice I would have is to step out of that dorm room and get involved. Invest into TROY and watch it invest so much more into you,” he said. “The little bit of opportunity you take in your freshman year to go out and get involved in organizations is going to pay dividends later on in your life.”
Long told the gathering of new students that he was excited for the opportunity to witness the beginning of their journey and looked forward to seeing them grow through their time at TROY.
“I’m so excited to see the things each and every one of you accomplish here over the next four years,” he said. “I’m so excited to see how much you grow Troy University, and more importantly, how much Troy University grows you.”
The convocation also included welcoming remarks from current SGA President Caleb Smith and Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor.
Dr. Hawkins encouraged students to embrace the traditions of TROY, build lasting relationships and take advantage of the University’s more than 150 clubs and organizations, and most importantly, go to class and dedicate themselves to their studies.
“I want to welcome all of our new students. This is your new home away from home and we hope that you will make the most of your time here,” Dr. Hawkins told the group. “This period will be one of the most important times in your life. Treasure this time. The more you put in the more you are going to get out of your time here.”
The new students also had the opportunity to learn the University’s Alma Mater and were led in singing the Fight Song by football coach Gerad Parker, accompanied by The Sound of the South Marching Band. Following the convocation, the students gathered on the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium for a class photo.
